Program outcomes and goals
The Paralegal program supports student success by delivering quality legal education focused on practical skills in a challenging, inclusive, and supportive environment.
Legal assistant less than one year career pathway certificate (not ABA approved)
- Recognize basic legal ethics issues, and perform work within the legal, ethical, and economic constraints of the law office environment.
- Communicate effectively with legal professionals and consumers of legal services, and exhibit effective people skills to deal with a variety of personalities and diverse individuals.
- Apply planning and time management principles to prioritize and accomplish assigned tasks.
- Evaluate and analyze tasks to determine what computer technology should be utilized to effectively complete the tasks, then effectively create, organize, maintain, manage and present data and documents to various audiences using current software and hardware technology.
- Perform legal office tasks in a timely and professional manner to maintain workplace efficiency
One year certificate (ABA approved)
- Apply analytic, critical thinking and research skills to fact situations within a legal context.
- Demonstrate professional skills necessary to a paralegal career, including oral and written communication and technology skills.
- Adhere to professional and ethical standards appropriate to the legal profession.
- Use effective personal, interpersonal, time and project management skills required in the legal profession.
Associate degree (AAS) (ABA approved)
- Apply analytic, critical thinking, and research skills to fact situations within a legal context.
- Demonstrate professional skills necessary to a paralegal career, including oral and written communication and technology skills.
- Adhere to professional and ethical standards appropriate to the legal profession.
- Use effective personal, interpersonal, time, and project management skills required in the legal profession.
- Demonstrate breadth of knowledge across several disciplines in humanities, social science, mathematics, and science.
Paralegals may not practice law and may not provide legal services directly to the public except as permitted by law.
Paralegal program students must complete 14 quarter credit hours of synchronous instruction. Synchronous instruction means students must attend a scheduled class meeting time each week. This restriction is not applicable to Legal Assistant students.